Taking a Break from Your Medical Education

Some medical students need to interrupt their medical education to accommodate educational goals or special circumstances. Knowing how to handle a leave of absence is important, so carefully consider the ramifications of how a break in your education may delay graduation or other milestones within your career.

Planning to Take a Leave of Absence

First, consult with your advisor and make sure that everyone, who needs to be, is in the “loop” about your decision. Typically, a Leave of Absence (LOA) is a period of non-enrollment when a student is not required to pay (full) tuition and fees. However, for some institutions, this process may be associated with a fee. Check your institution’s policy regarding a LOA for specific requirements.

There are many acceptable reasons for a LOA; some reasons may include:

Preparing to Leave or Return to Campus

There are several things to do to ensure your LOA—departure and re-entry—are as smooth as possible.

Be sure to stay in contact with your financial aid office and apply for financial aid during the appropriate cycle.

Be certain to communicate your intended actions with all applicable departments at your institution. The earlier you notify these departments of your intentions, the better. Many times, some forms, actions, or services are bound by time-sensitive requirements.

Some schools limit the amount of time a student is allowed to be away from their institution; some institutions may require that students start the academic year even if they intend to take time off; and some schools may not allow a LOA during certain medical school years or during certain rotation cycles. Confirm your school’s policy with your dean or advisor; knowing this information before taking the LOA will make the transition easier for you.

Refer to the checklist on this fact sheet as you prepare for your LOA, and also upon your return. Make sure you investigate all policies and think about any ramifications the LOA may have before you make the final decision. There may be implications to your financial aid package, expected date of graduation, or family life, and it’s important to know about those possible changes before taking the LOA.

Talk to your financial aid office if you have additional questions about a LOA.

Education Debt Manager (EDM) for Graduating and Matriculating Medical School Students

This comprehensive financial guide helps professionals at all levels of the medical education continuum navigate the complexities of financing medical school by borrowing wisely and repaying student loan debt responsibly.

Training in a Residency or Fellowship

The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association dedicated to transforming health care through innovative medical education, cutting-edge patient care, and groundbreaking medical research. Its members are all 152 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 51 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and more than 80 academic societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC serves the leaders of America’s medical schools and teaching hospitals and their more than 173,000 full-time faculty members, 89,000 medical students, 129,000 resident physicians, and more than 60,000 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the biomedical sciences.